Skin Care…..Part One—Why Skin Care?
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March 24th, 2008
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Skin Care…..Part One—Why Skin Care?
The very first step to a radiant, more beautiful you is proper skin care. What kind of makeup and how much you use won’t matter if you don’t take care of your skin and keep it looking its best. Think of yourself as an artist. If you were going to paint a picture, what kind of surface would you start with? Would you pick one that is dirty and crinkled or one that is smooth and clean? Of course we would want to paint on a clean smooth surface! This same thought applies to your face.
Starting with a fresh, clean surface (your skin) is the key to creating a beautiful work of art (your makeup). Whether you apply makeup or not, starting and ending your day with good skin care is essential to a beautiful face. A simple skin care program, based on the needs of your skin type (dry, normal, combination or oily), can refresh your skin and help to give it a healthy glow that will enhance your own natural beauty.
“When I was a teen I once woke up with a big red zit right at the end of my nose. My face didn’t seem to care that prom was just a week away! I scrubbed, steamed, and scalded my face, doused it with alcohol, and masked it with makeup. Nothing worked. That blemish popped right out no matter what I covered it with, and I went through the week feeling like I wanted to hide. I avoided conversations at school and kept my head down with a tissue to my nose, faking a cold. Whenever I heard giggling or whispering, I was sure it was about my hideous red blemish.
The thought of my gorgeous emerald green gown, matching shoes, and perfect pearl accessories didn’t seem to make me feel any more beautiful. My prom was ruined.
In high school I thought I was too young to need a skin care program. I figured that was for old ladies. When a blemish did occur on my face, I would feverishly fight the problem with a rigorous skin care routine. When it went away, I quit the skin care until the next emergency. I was in a rush in the mornings and too tired at night to stick with any skin care program. I know now that in less than five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night, I could have avoided some of those problems and much unnecessary embarrassment.” —Tammy Bennett
Determining Your Skin’s Needs
Let’s see what kind of skin you have. Making some simple observations, place one of the following answers that best describes your skin next to the question: Almost Never, Sometimes, Monthly, Weekly or Daily.
Check It Out
1. Is your skin prone to pimples?
2. Is your skin prone to blackheads?
3. Do you break out on your back?
4. Do you break out on your upper arms?
5. Do you break out on your chest?
The Answer Is
Check your answers. Use the info below to determine the needs of your skin.
Almost Never-Sometimes—You are blessed to have minor complexion problems. However, even minor blemishes can turn into huge problems when we have to face the world from behind a single zit! You should still follow a regular skin care routine.
Monthly—Your skin tends to be oilier as your body goes through hormonal changes. You will notice a change just before, during, or after your period. Altering your skin care routine during your menstrual cycle can help meet the changing needs of your skin.
Weekly-Daily—Your skin tends to be very oily and needs the utmost care to look its best. While many over-the-counter products work well, you may need to consult a dermatologist. It’s money well spent and is sometimes covered by your health insurance. Ask your parents.
Testing Your Skin Type
If you know the special needs of your skin type, you’ll be able to avoid products that irritate your skin and waste your time and money as well. Use this simple test to find out your skin type:
Check It Out
What you’ll need: Perm end papers or curl papers and scissors
Step One: First thing in the morning before you wash your face, take a perm end paper (or curl paper) and cut it into four pieces about the size of a penny. Gently place one of the four pieces on your forehead, one on your cheek, one on your nose, and one on your chin. (The papers will stick on their own from the natural moisture and oils on your skin. If they don’t stick, then you know that particular area of your skin is extremely dry).
Step Two: Wait ten minutes and then remove the papers one by one. As you remove them, hold them to the light and examine each one to see how much oil is absorbed from your skin. Circle the answer that best resembles the paper you removed from your face:
Forehead: Dry Normal Oily
Cheek: Dry Normal Oily
Nose: Dry Normal Oily
Chin: Dry Normal Oily
The Answer Is
What is your skin type? Circle the answer that best describes your skin:
Dry Normal Combination Oily
Dry—If your skin is dry, then you may have difficulty getting the papers to adhere to your skin. Your paper will have little to no oil on it; however, you may see flakes of dry skin on the paper. Dry skin does not produce enough oil on its own to retain a healthy amount of moisture. Your skin will be tight and flaky. Dry dead skin cells will clog your pores beneath the surface, irritating your skin and causing pimples to form.
Normal—If your skin is normal, it has just enough moisture to make the paper adhere without appearing shiny. Normal skin is a blessing; you should be so thankful to have this skin type. Normal skin produces just the right amount of oils to keep your skin moist without it appearing dry or oily.
Oily—If your face is oily, your paper will be heavily saturated with oil from your skin. Your face most likely appears shiny. Oily skin is linked to hormonal changes taking place within your body that produce overactive oil glands. If you have oily skin your face usually appears shiny no matter how many times a day you wash it. Oily skin is most prone to severe acne problems.
“As a teenager I got very few pimples on my face, but my upper back would often break out with unsightly blemishes of every size and shape. I’d take care of my face, which I could see in the mirror, but I’d forget about my back.
When I showered in the morning I would scrub my back vigorously with a long-handled brush that hung in the family shower. Little did I know that brush was loaded with bacteria that thrived in moist, dark places. Every morning I was making the problem worse by scrubbing bacteria into my blemishes. As my pimples multiplied, it never occurred to me to use the same skin care products I used on my face to help clear up my back. Back then blemish creams came in expensive tiny tubes and just one application on my back would have required the whole tube. Thankfully things have changed today. Now you can buy medicated cleansers made just for your back, arms, and chest area. Along with specially formulated lotions and creams, these products allow you to look your best without spending a fortune!”—Tammy Bennett
Sensitive Skin
In addition to your skin type, you may or may not have “sensitive skin.” Does your skin get irritated easily? Do you tend to break out or develop ruddy, rash-like patches when you apply any type of skin care product to it? If so, you will need to purchase products made for “sensitive skin,” available for all four skin types.
Hypoallergenic products usually, but not always, work best on sensitive skin. Always test a small area of your skin first before spending too much money on a product. If you have trouble finding a product that does not irritate your skin, consult a dermatologist.
TIP………. Avoid products that contain fragrances.
The 5 Steps to Skin Care
The five steps to a good skin care routine are cleansing, exfoliating, toning, moisturizing and protecting. These steps need to be done twice a day. And, if you play a sport, you need to cleanse and moisturize after every practice or game as well.
#1: Cleanser
Cleansing is the first and most important step in skin care. What should you use? Well, I’m afraid that’s for you to decide based on your skin type. Only you can grade the success of any one product or combination of products over time. You should notice a positive difference in your skin within 5 to 10 days if you are using the right product. If not, try another until you find one that works for you. Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged during the search.
Dry—Choose water-soluble cleansing milk formulated for dry skin. Dry skin cleansers contain light emollients (medicated ingredients that soften and smooth) that leave your skin feeling soft and smooth without feeling greasy.
Normal—Choose a water-soluble cleansing lotion formulated for normal skin. It should leave all areas of your skin feeling clean and refreshed, never tight or greasy.
Combination—Choose a water-soluble, oil-free cleanser formulated for combination skin. When you wash your face concentrate on the T-zone area.
Oily—Choose a water-soluble cleanser that contains 2 percent salicylic acid that will loosen the oil and bacteria from your pores so it rinses easily from your skin. For blemishes or acne, use a cleanser containing 3 to 5 percent benzoyl peroxide. Use more benzoyl peroxide for more drying and less for less drying. Follow up with blemish cream that contains benzoyl peroxide. Apply it directly on the blemish.
TIP……..Apply cleanser with warm water to gently open the pores and remove dirt. Use cool water to rinse your face. Cool water closes your pores, which helps block dirt from getting in.
#2: Exfoliator
Exfoliants or facial scrubs are cleansers that contain a fine gritty substance formulated to remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface and expose fresh, new, healthy skin. Old layers of surface skin can clog your pores, trapping dirt and sweat and making your skin much more susceptible to blemishes. Exfoliating your face twice a week gives you the same results as expensive facials. Using your fingertips in a circular motion, gently massage the product into your already dampened skin. This will buff your skin without irritating it. Rinse well by splashing water over your face several times until you no longer feel any of the cleanser. Gently blot dry. Apply moisturizer immediately to protect the healthy new skin cells that are now exposed. Never use exfoliants on the delicate skin around your eyes.
Dry—Use a buffing cream to loosen dry skin cells and slough off flaky dry skin. Be gentle so you don’t pull, stretch, or irritate your skin.
Normal—Exfoliating masks are great for normal skin. Gently massage it in with your fingertips, leave on (follow directions on the product label), and rinse off.
Combination—Use exfoliating masks or scrubs for normal to oily skin types.
Oily—Use an exfoliant that contains AHA (alpha hydroxyl acid). AHA helps dry oily skin. Avoid harsh scrubbing that will open blemishes, spread bacteria, and make the problem worse.
TIP……..Keep your exfoliating scrub in the shower so that #1 You’ll remember to use it and #2 It’s much easier to rinse off.
#3: Toner
Toner is like the rinse cycle in your washing machine. It continues the cleaning process by lifting and removing any residual dirt or dead skin cells missed by the cleanser. It also restores the skin to its natural pH level (acid level that helps repel bacteria from the skin’s surface). Don’t use toner around the sensitive eye area, and always apply toner with a cotton ball or pad.
You might want to keep a bottle of toner and cotton balls, or an over-the-counter jar of astringent pads, in your PE locker to freshen up your face after sweating. Good old-fashioned sweat is one of your skin’s ways of natural cleansing. Perspiration releases dirt from your pores, and it’s a good time to apply a refreshing toner. Your skin will love you for it!
Dry to Normal Skin—Avoid toners that contain alcohol that will further dry your skin. Look for toners containing witch hazel. Witch hazel soothes the skin. Use once in the morning before you apply moisturizer.
Combination or Oily Skin—Use a toner that contains alcohol. Alcohol will dry up oily skin. For best results use toner once in the morning and once at night before you apply moisturizer.
TIP……..Don’t forget to apply moisturizer to your neck. You don’t want to have a great-looking face attached to a sagging neck.
#4: Moisturizer
After you cleanse, exfoliate, or tone your skin, it’s time to moisturize. Moisturizers don’t actually sink beneath our skin’s surface, but they do act as an invisible barrier to keep your body’s natural moisture from escaping. Moisturizers come in many varieties, from oil-free gels to oily lotions. Based on your skin type and the changing needs throughout the month, you might need more than one moisturizer. In the cold, dry months many of us need heavy lotion to help keep your skin from getting dry and flaky. During the summer months, and often during your menstrual cycle when skin is oilier, you will only need a lightweight, oil-free product. Remember that everyone’s skin is different, so what works for your friend may not work for you.
Use specially formulated eye creams or gels for the delicate area around your eyes. These lotions will remove puffiness and smooth out the eye area without irritating your skin. Application of eye creams requires a gentle touch. Using your pinky finger, gently pat the moisturizer on your skin. Make sure you select moisturizers that contain sunscreen!
Dry—Dry skin needs a moisturizer that contains heavy emollients. If you have specific areas of your face that are much drier than other areas, then you may want to use two moisturizers; a heavy moisturizer for those targeted areas and a lighter moisturizer over the rest of your face and neck.
Normal—For normal skin, apply a lightweight oil-free moisturizer that doesn’t feel heavy or make your skin feel greasy.
Combination—Choose two different types of moisturizers to balance the two different needs of your skin. Use a lightweight oil-absorbing formula on your T-zone area and an oil-free moisturizer on the rest of your face and neck.
Oily—Don’t skip this step. Many people think that because their face is oily they don’t need to use moisturizer because it will just get oilier. However, this is not true. Your skin needs adequate moisture to be its healthiest and to combat acne. Oily skin responds best to lightweight oil-free, oil-absorbing lotions or gels that moisturize your skin without adding additional oils. Another product that works well on oily skin is hydrating mists. In cases of acute acne it is best to consult a dermatologist.
TIP……..When you’re outside and don’t want the heaviness of makeup, tint your moisturizer or sunscreen with foundation before you apply it.
#5: Protection
Most girls think that foundation is just for evening out skin tones and blemishes, but it is actually skin care. Foundation can protect your skin throughout the day from things in the air that can cause it to become irritated or break out. You really need a thin layer of liquid or cream foundation for protection (according to your skin type). For example, if you were to carry a glass of water around without a lid on it, things such as rain water, dust, chemicals, pollutants, sprays from cleaning chemicals, perfumes and hair sprays will fall into the glass of water. These same things are landing on your face. A thin layer of foundation will protect your skin from all of those things in the air.
TIP……..Your foundation color should match your skin exactly. Don’t use darker foundation just because you want to look darker. When your foundation matches your skin color, then you can give yourself more color with color on eyes, cheeks and lips. Your skin won’t look smooth and even with the wrong foundation shade. A good test is to stripe some foundation across your cheek. Blend the stripe in and then see if it is the same color as your skin. The foundation will even out your skin tone and cover any areas that you want to hide.
This is how your skin care should look like on a daily basis:
1. Cleanse A.M. and P.M.
2. Exfoliator Twice a Week
3. Toner A.M. and P.M.
4. Moisturizer A.M. and P.M.
5. Protection A.M.
Beauty Bonus
There are several other factors that can adversely affect your skin. Are any of these things you need to address?
Sun—Even a good skin care regimen won’t completely counteract the effects of too much sun. Sun can cause irregular pigmentation, permanent spotting, and premature wrinkling…not to mention various forms of skin cancer. Dermatologists recommend an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 for the optimum benefit. Make sure the product you purchase protects from both UVA and UBA rays. You should use sun block not only on your face, but also on every other part of your body that is exposed. Not only will this protect from sun damage, it will help to keep your skin moisturized all over.
Diet—A balanced diet is critical to your overall physical development. Both lack of good nutrients and fluctuating weight are detrimental to beautiful skin. Vitamins and minerals are necessary for the natural repair and replacement of healthy skin cells. Every time you gain weight your skin has to stretch to keep up. When you’re young, your skin is more elastic; as you age, elasticity is lost and you’re likely to be left with sagging skin and stretch marks. A well balanced diet is a key factor in preserving the appearance of your skin.
Exercise—Although we often dread it, we need exercise to maintain healthy skin. Just twenty minutes (That’s only 50 seconds out of each hour in a twenty-four hour day) of aerobic exercise a day increases blood flow and supplies oxygen to your skin cells, helping to keep that healthy glow. Exercise also helps keep your weight stable, stimulates the sweat glands, which keep your skin clean, and releases chemicals (pheromones) that make you feel revitalized! Exercise can be anything such as jogging, rollerblading, or playing volleyball with your friends.
TIP……..Brisk walking is a great exercise. It not only energizes your skin cells, but it also gives you more physical energy!
Sleep—Not getting enough sleep robs your body of the ability to properly nourish and repair all systems, including your skin. When you don’t get enough sleep your eyes can be puffy, your skin can be sallow, and your eyes hollow with dark circles. Make sure you get at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. Don’t think that you can pull an all-nighter and catch up on your sleep later. It doesn’t work that that way. You can never catch up on lost sleep. Follow a regular sleep pattern to keep yourself looking and feeling great.
Hormones—Your menstrual cycle is a constant fluctuation of hormones, which can affect your mood, your weight, and especially your skin. During that time of month avoid eating greasy foods and wearing heavy makeup. Try a lightweight foundation followed by a light dusting of translucent powder to combat oily shine.
Smoking—Although some people think it looks “cool,” smoking stinks. Not only does it rob your skin of much-needed oxygen, it gives you bad breath, the smell stays on your skin, hair, and clothes, and it stains your teeth! As you get older little wrinkles will form around your mouth causing your lipstick to bleed out of your natural lip line. Cigarettes are addictive despite what your friends might think. They can cause many forms of lung, throat, and mouth cancer as well as other deadly diseases. Don’t Smoke!
Alcohol—Any drink with alcohol depletes your body of water, which is needed for moist, young-looking skin. Drinking causes your skin to look red and blotchy, enlarges your pores allowing dirt and grime to get in, and created little purple lines on your face (broken blood vessels). Alcohol is fattening. Ever heard the term “beer belly”? Chemically, alcohol is a form of sugar, which is not efficiently used by the body and can cause rapid weight gain. We’ve already discussed how fluctuating weight can harm our skin’s appearance, not to mention the rest of our body! And on top of all that, alcohol can be addictive and cause fatal diseases.
Water—Drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day not only keeps our bodies flushed of impurities that show up in our skin, it keeps the moisture level high and helps maintain proper weight.
TIP……..Healthy-looking skin begins with 8 hours of sleep and eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
Putting It to the Test
Proper skin care, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can bring beautiful results if you follow a regular routine. Although you might not be thinking about getting older, your aging process started the day you were born! Start taking care of yourself now so that you will look great for all your tomorrows: your twenties, thirties, forties…etc.
Track the results of your skin care routine. This will help you determine if the products you are using are effective. If you are experiencing any adverse results, discontinue use immediately and try another product or consult a dermatologist.
My Skin Care Routine
Start Date: _______________________
Condition of my skin before I get started: _____________________________
____________________________________________________________
Cleanser Name: ________________________________________________
Results after 5 days: ____________________________________________
After 10 days: _________________________________________________
Exfoliant: ____________________________________________________
Results after 5 days: ____________________________________________
After 10 days: _________________________________________________
Toner:_______________________________________________________
Results after 5 days: ____________________________________________
After 10 days: _________________________________________________
Moisturizer: ___________________________________________________
Results after 5 days: ____________________________________________
After 10 days: _________________________________________________
The key to beautiful, healthy skin in the future is a dependable skin care system today.
—From Looking Good from the Inside Out by Tammy Bennett
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